五儀之論
The Discourse on Five Types of People
孔子曰：「人有五儀：有庸人，有士，有君子，有賢人，有大聖。」
Confucius said: 'People have five grades: there are common persons, scholars, gentlemen, worthy persons, and great sages.'
荀子 Xunzi · Chapter 31
哀公
Duke Ai
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水則載舟水則覆舟
Water Carries the Boat or Capsizes It
孔子曰：「君入廟門而右，登自胙階，仰視榱棟，俯見几筵，其器存，其人亡，君以此思哀，則哀將焉而不至矣？…且丘聞之，君者，舟也；庶人者，水也。水則載舟，水則覆舟，君以此思危，則危將焉而不至矣？」
Confucius said: 'When the ruler enters the temple gate and turns right, ascends the sacrificial stairs, looks up at the rafters and beams, looks down at the tables and mats — the ritual vessels remain but the people are gone. If the ruler contemplates grief through this, how could grief fail to come? ...Moreover I have heard: the ruler is a boat; the common people are water. Water can carry the boat, and water can capsize it. If the ruler contemplates danger through this, how could awareness of danger fail to come?'
Edition & Source
- Text
- 《荀子》 Xunzi
- Edition
- 《四部叢刊》本
- Commentary
- Traditional commentaries